Utah Jazz beat Lakers in L.A.

I know it was only one game. But i was really impressed with the young players on the Jazz. They played a huge roll in the win tonight. After coming off a 23 and career high 17 rebound game, favors gets another double double with 12 and 10 with 4 assists. Enes Kanter had 17 and 8 in only 23 minutes. And Alec Burkes added a career high 17 points, 11 of those comming in the 4th Quarter. Hayward had a bad night, but hes shown flashes as well. I think all 4 players complement each other well, and im really liking the young core of talent looking forward.

kobe was wearing a jazz jersey tonight. That might have been the worst game fo his career. Usually even when he struggles you can tell his head is in the game, but he was mentally shook tonight. But thats not to take anything away from the jazz. Kanter was solid all night and looks like a very good center for the future. Burks was making big plays in the 4th hitting some crazy shots on drives and playing through contact. Kobe owes his teammates a couple rounds tonight

Anyone else notice the newfound success of the Jazz w/o Big Al? I really like Al. He's a cool guy, a good scorer, and a great teammate and locker room guy.... but he also might be the 4th best Big on the Jazz.

It's really fun watching the guys gel. I hope they can pull out a playoff birth. That would be amazing.

I was at the game and I was really impressed with Kanter against Bynum. He had some nice up and under moves and made his free throws. Kobe was just awful though, him and the tournovers was why the Lakers lost. They were 19-2 at home prior and really should have won by at least 15 esspecailly without Jefferson playing

@the27guy Id really be suprised if all 4 of these bigs were on the team next year. I feel al would be the one that makes the most sense to go to just for what you could get for him. But the jazz are a young point guard away from having one of the most exciting young nucleus in the league. Sadly this draft has little to offer for jazz style point guards. (i dont think teague fits in well.)

I agree that Big Al needs to go before his value drops off even more, Favors, Kanter, Milsap and Evans is a great rotation at the 4/5, I think they should trade him to the Bobcats for D.J. Augustin and an expiring contract or something this off-season.

Charlotte gets a low-post scorer to complement Biyombo's D, and they get to free minutes for Kemba at the 1, and if they take Barnes or Lamb, it creates a double-team target to get their shooter more shots.

Jazz get some cap space to re-sign their young core and a young upgrade at the point in Augustin.

They've got a BRIGHT future. I'd compare them to OKC w/ all the young talent they have. They went to work on us tonight, albeit KB shot LA right out of the game. Hats of to the Jazz, they played fearlessly.

You really have to wonder what the Jazz are going to do with potentially two lotto picks this year (they have the Warriors top-7 protected, currently #10, and their own unless they make the playoffs in which case it goes to Minny).

They seem set with SG Burks, SF Hayward, PF Favors and C Kanter (or switch the two bigs) for the future and as bigblacknbeautiful pointed out there's no PG in this draft to fill out this nucleus. I personally think Kendall Marshall would be great, as each of those four young guys are very competent scorers and Marshall would be the perfect guy to get them the ball where and when they need it.

Otherwise, what do they do? Right now this site has them getting both Thomas Robinson and John Henson. Obviously this isn't based on need but it shows you how how they can still reel in a ton of potential.

I agree that it would be amazing if they made the playoffs. Most had them justifiably finishing in the bottom of the West after going something like 7-21 after dealing Deron last year but they've been hanging around playoff contention all year. One of the last teams to play really regimented, system basketball, they were able to enter a shortened season more prepared because they don't have to necessarily worry as much about chemistry. Millsap and Jefferson are both top 15 in the league in PER, Hayward, Howard and Burks are a nice versatile group of wings, Favors and Kanter bring force and energy of the bench and Devin Harris can still have a very good game once in a while. After that win last night I think they'll firmly be in contention for a playoff birth for the rest of the year.

Thats what im saying. Bynum was on fire and Gasol was also playing well. But instead of feeding them he kept jacking up shots and on top of that had 7 turnovers.There comes a point where you have to stop forcing it and feed your bigs down low.